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By Toby Day and Brent Sarchet

See the MSU Extension Fruit Research Sites page for further project details.

Cultivar descriptions by Toby Day and Brent Sarchet

KEY:

Fire Blight Resistance Code – R.D. Koski and W.R. Jacobi, Colorado State University; University of Minnesota Extension, MSU Extension

* High Degree of Susceptibility
** Moderately Susceptible
*** Moderately Resistant
?? Unknown Susceptibility

Other Symbols:
◊ Best survival rates across the state in 2015 evaluation

Apple

'Arkansas Black' – Old cultivar discovered in Arkansas in 1870; known for good storage. *

'Blondee' – Cultivar discovered in Ohio in 1998; early ripening. ??

'Carroll' – 'Moscow' pear x 'Melba' cross developed at the Experimental Farm in Morden, Manitoba in 1961. Excellent eating apple. Not as vigorous as other apple cultivars. ***

'Chestnut Crab' – University of Minnesota release in 1949. ***

'Cox’s Orange Pippin' – Originates to England in 1825. **

'Frostbite' – A 'Malinda' seedling released from the University of Minnesota in 2008; grandparent of 'Honeycrisp' and parent of 'Keepsake' and 'Sweet 16.' ??

'Gale Gala' – A 'Gala' sport discovered by Wally Gale in his Malaga, WA orchard. **

'Ginger Gold' – A seedling discovered in the Harvey orchard near Lovingston, Virginia in 1980. *

'Goodland' – Developed from a 'Patten Greening' seedling at the Experimental Farm in Morden, Manitoba in 1931. Excellent eating apple, and excellent cold hardiness. Best performing apple cultivar in the research. **

'Good Mac' – 'Goodland' x 'McIntosh' cross released from the Experimental Farm in Morden, Manitoba; one of the best performing apple cultivars in the trial. ***

'Gravenstein' – Old cultivar originating from Denmark in the 1700’s. Questionable cold hardiness east of the divide. **

'Honeycrisp' – 'Macoun' x 'Honeygold' release from the University of Minnesota in 1991. **

'Northern Lights' – 'Haralson' x 'McIntosh' cross made in 1938 at Geneva, New York and introduced from North Dakota State University in 1990. It has not performed in the research; we have had to replace them frequently from winter kill. ***

'Mutsu' – 'Golden Delicious' x 'Indo' cross developed from the Aomori Apple Experiment Station in Japan, 1937. **

'Prairie Magic' – 'Goodland' x 'Mantet' cross released by Mr. Wilfred Drysdale of Neepawa, Manitoba. Limited number of propagators. ??

'Ruby Mac' – 'McIntosh' sport. ***

'Smokehouse' – Old cultivar discovered in Pennsylvania in 1837. ***

'Stayman Winesap #20' – A cultivar of the original 'Stayman Winesap' discovered by Dr. J Stayman of Leavenworth, Kansas in 1886. Known for its long shelf life. **

'Sweet 16' – University of Minnesota release in 1977; good cold hardiness. ***

'Wealthy' – Old seedling cultivar discovered in 1869 in Minnesota; a popular choice in many of Montana’s first orchards. It is still a dominate cultivar in heritage orchards located across the state where trees are 100 plus years old. *

'Zestar!' ◊ – 'State Fair' x 'Minnesota 1691' cross released from University of Minnesota in 1999. One of the best apple cultivars in the trial; great flavor; good cold hardiness. **

Pear

'Clapp’s Favorite' – Discovered in Massachusetts in the 1800s. *

'Flemish Beauty' – A seedling discovered in Belgium in the early 1800’s; very cold hardy with excellent fruit; few propagators of this cultivar. *

'Golden Spice' – A release from the University of Minnesota in 1949; best performing pear cultivars in our research; small fruit but makes a wonderful cider and is very cold hardy. ??

'John' – 'Aspa' x 'Siberian' pear cross released from the University of Saskatchewan in 1960; vigorous growth, very cold hardy, early blooms (late April in Helena area) are susceptible to frost damage. ??

'Luscious' – A South Dakota State University release; questionable cold hardiness east of the divide. **

'Parker' – A University of Minnesota release in 1934; questionable cold hardiness east of the divide. ??

'Patten' – Seedling discovered in Iowa; questionable cold hardiness east of the divide. ??

'Pioneer' – Developed by A.L. Young of Brooks, Alberta in 1936; good cold hardiness. ??

'Ure' – A release of the Morden, Manitoba Research Station in 1978. ??

Plum

'Mount Royal'◊ – A European plum with dark blue fruit.

'Pipestone' – A University of Minnesota release in 1942.

'Toka'◊ – A Prunus americana x simonii cross introduced in 1911 by Dr. Neils Hansen.

Sour Cherry

'Evans Bali' – Discovered by Leuan Evans in an old orchard near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 1920s.